Listener

I think Joseph of the New Testament is one of the dearest souls in all of the Bible. Think about his quiet faithfulness and obedience to God’s leading as he stepped into one of the most meaningful, most under-celebrated roles that has ever been played. He is lovely.

Although he never spoke a word in all the gospel accounts, Joseph’s tireless devotion to God is declared through his ability to hear what God wanted him to do and do it immediately. The text of Matthew and Luke show glimpses of his earnest desire to please God and care for his family. The simplicity of Joseph’s participation in these passages emphasizes the criterion the Lord sought in choosing an adoptive father for His son: an obedient listener.

Justin is a lot like Joseph to me. Early in his visit to Cardinal Village this month he lead me in an afternoon of prayer where we sought Jesus’ heart about our lives. There was a lot of honest confession, forgiveness, and seeking direction, but the thing that was special about our time is that there was a lot of listening.

Justin is an incredible listener.

I love dreaming out loud, and often I find myself sharing what’s on my mind with Justin the instant I think it. He has always been attentive and tuned in; he never even appears to be focusing on other things as I share my heart. I love that, but I really love the way Justin listens for Jesus’ voice. More often than not I find that he is faithfully attentive to God speaking through the Word and through the circumstances of his life. I feel so incredibly safe knowing that a faithful man of God is leading my heart!


When God picked Joseph to lead Jesus’ family, He wasn’t looking for a visionary, a forward-moving, successful guy who would impress Mary’s parents. God uses people who are chasing His heart, those who listen and obey. It is men like Justin and Joseph who are strategically placed in God’s Kingdom for beautiful, epic lives.